Tentering and drying machine



April 7, 1931. c. c. KEYNYYON TENTERING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed Dec. -28, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l n I n u I a I I u n n 0 a a n u I u 0 n u 0 n m OR I BY 5 a I ATI'ORNEYS p i 1c. CQKENYON- 1,799,301

TENTERING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed De c. 28, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a? i I 44 4/ 42 55 5i 1 OR 5/. 9 7 ATTORNEY-S Patented Apr. 7, 1931 CHARLES C. KENYON, F SOMEBVILLE, NEV J ERSEY TENTER-ING AIID DRYING MACHINE Application filed December 28, 1929.

This invention relates to tentering and a drying machines.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described including a wall or bafile arrangement having improved means associated with relatively movable parts to effect a closure for the prevention of substantial air leakage while permitting the movement of said parts.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the nature set forth having means for moving'materials of varying widths through a casing'in which air circulation is assured by a bafiie means, the latter having a closure movable according to the width of the material for which the device is set to permitthe air to flow along the layers of material but with a minimum of air ieakage. 1

Another object of the invention is to furnish a device of the type mentioned in which the closure means is constructed to operate within the ordinary dimensions of the machine, while permitting the latter to receive materials over a wide range of widths.

A futher object of the invention is to construct a machine of the class alluded to in which the closure means coacts in an improved manner with the layers of material and also with the vertical adjustment bars for width; and in which the construction is simple, compact, rugged, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, operative automatically with the adjustment of the machine, and reliable and efiicient to a high degree in use. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

lVith the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated on the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views. In the drawing: Figure l is an internal top view of a de-' vice embodying the invention.

'tion.

Serial No. 417,121.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same with parts removed to show internal construc- Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a closure means, taken on line 33 of Fig. i.

Fig. 4; is a view in vertical sectiontof the same taken on line 47-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a bottom sectional view taken on line 55 of F ig.4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.,

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less; than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

Generally described, the invention provides a tentering and drying machine having bafiie means for causing a flow of air along, any predetermined path. The machine includes elements eXtending through the bafiie means, said elements being movable in adjusting the machine for operation. or according to the width of thematerial to be dried thereby. To permitmovement of the said elements, the baffle. means has openings of the requisite size, these being closed by a novel closure means. The latter is movable with the adjustment of the elements andpermits the full movement of the elements while maintaining said openings against an undesired flow of air therethrough. Among the elements may be mentioned the vertically screw adjusted bars for movingthe chain tracks, and also the material that is being dried. The dimen sion between the said bars varies as does also the dimension between the walls of the casing and the said bars. The closure means is operative at both locations, and without necessitating any increase in the width of the machine. The closure means may take various IOU forms although herein shown as consisting of substantially fiat, relatively movable plates. To prevent the material from impinging the baflie means, a suitable guide means is provided therefor. The general arrangement of the baffles, blowers and heating means is claimed in my application Serial No. 417,120, filed Dec. 28, 1929.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 denotes a device embodying the invention. The same includes an elongated casing 11 having a top 12, side walls 13 and front and rear end walls 14, 15. Mounted horizontally in the casing are a plurality of telescopic vertically spaced rollers 16 adjacent to each end of the machine. Associated with the rollers are tracks 17 for any suitable chains carrying the usual hooks with which the material is engaged. These tracks are mounted on vertical bars 18 for adjustment toward or away from each other, the said bars being movable by the screw bars 19 having the usual lefthand, right-hand threads. The material 20 enters the casing at 21 and passes downward through the machine in a series of spaced layers and leaves the casing at the bottom thereof at 22.

Dividing the easing into a plurality of sections are any suitable wall or bafile means which is constructed to cause the air in the casing to flow along any predetermined paths, or to prevent a flow of air into certain portions of the machine, or leakage thereof, according to the purpose or construction of the same or the machine. Thus a battle 23 divides the easing into a plurality of superimposed drying compartments 24, 25. An auxiliary bafiie 26 forms a cooling passage 27 along the bottom of the casing. The material 20 passes in layers through the drying compartments 24, 25 and hence out through the cooling passage 27. The latter may also be thought of as a compartment for the treatment of the material.

To blow air through the casing for drying the material, any suitable source of air under pressure is utilized. This may include one or more blowers located as desired, for example, in the casing 11. The blower means comprises in one embodimentof the invention, blowers 28, 29 positioned at opposite ends of the casing and communicating with the respective drying compartments 24, 2:"). These blowers may be mounted in vertical end walls 30, 31 for the said compartments. The blower 28 constitutes an inlet and circulatory blower, since it draws in air through the passage 27 discharges the air according to arrow a, the circulation blower 29 receiving and discharging the air as shown by arrow 7), and the blower 28 recirculating the air as shown by arrow 0. Each of the said blowers steps up the pressure of the air received from the other blower, to overcome the pressure drop of the air along the said layers, and to cause an efficient circulation at a low average pressure, with a minimum expenditure of power. An outlet blower 32 ejects a portion of the moist air to maintain a predetermined condition of the circulating air.

To heat the air, any suitable means may be used located in any desirable position. For instance, the steam coils 33 may be positioned between the layers of material, and the heat supplied thereby controlled as may be feasi- To confine the air substantially to the spaces between the layers, side battles 34 may be provided at the sides of the casing, the arrangement being such as to afford the necessary space at the said sides for the members 18 and 19. These baffles terminate in spaced relation to the ends of the layers of material, and are of angular form at their ends 35 for an easy entrance of air laterally into those alternate spaces l etween the layers which are otherwise closed by the rollers 16. The auxiliary bafiies are preferablyremovablymounted and extend substantially end to end, but with their inner ends 36 in spaced relation to each other.

To cause the bafiics 23 and 26 to enclose the moving material 20 and the vertical bars 18 for every adjustment or width of material, the said bailies are formed with the closure means that will now be described.

At each point 3'? where a bar 18 extends through a baflle 23 or 26, an opening 38 is pro vided in said baiile, which opening may be constructed in any suitable manner, as a slot in the baffle, or by making the battle of spaced plates 39, 40. Secured to each vertical bar 18 is a slide plate 41 extending toward the center of the machine where they overlap at 42. These slide plates lie parallel to the bafiie plates, and overlie the edge 43 thereof and may more relatively closely therealong. The said slide plates can be fastened to the vertical bars 18 in any suitable manner as, for instance, by angle brackets 44.

It will be understood that when the vertical bars 18 are as far apart as they can be, the slide plates 41 still overlap, while when the said bars are moved toward each other into their position of relatively closest proximity, the space for the overlap will nevertheless be sufiicient. Thus that portion of the opening 38 between the bars 18 is permanently closed. in any position of the bars.

Closing the opening 38 between, the vertical bars 18 and the sides of the casing, is a. closure means consisting of a plurality of telescopically enacting plates of any desired number. To provide for a maximum of adjustability a unit 45 of preferably three short plates is used at each side of the machine. Each of these units includes a plate 46 secured to a bar 18 in any suitable manner, as by a bracket 47. This plate 46 may coact in any desired manner with a plate 41, and the side edges of both may form continuous lines. 'The'closure plate 46 may terminate in a transverse lip 48 at the end thereof remote from its bar 18.

Positioned on the opposite side of the baffle is a relatively stationary plate 49 which may be co-ordinated with the former in any desired manner, and may be fixedly mounted on the side walls of the casing at 50. The plate 49 may be spaced from its baliie, and has a lip 51 at its free end extending toward the same.

Positioned between the plates 46 and 49 is an intermediate plate 52'having lips 53, 54 co acting respectively withthe lips 48 and 51. The intermediate plates may be supported in extendedposition by lugs 5 The operation of the units 45 will now be clearly apparent. hen the vertical bars 18 move toward each other, both of the closure units 45 expand, the lips 48, 53 interengag ing for movement of the intermeoiate plate, and the lips 51, 54 engaging to limit the said movement. When the movement of the bars 18 is reversed, the closure units are caused to collapse in an obvious manner.

The slight open spaces that maybe observed will cause no material air leakage. Wherever desired, however, these may be suitably closed.

For enclosing the material 20, a somewhat similar closure means may be used as that hereinbefore described. As the closure means must extend at an angle to the material, the baflies 23'and 26 are formed with offsets 56,

:57 providing the substantially vertical wall portions 58. In each of the latter is formed an opening or slot 59 ofany suitable shape, or rectangular as shown. Plates 6O overlapping in the center of the machine at 60a extend over the said opening in relative proximity to the baflies. The plates 60 have longitudi nal central openings 61 which are comparatively narrow, but of the. proper width for the passage of the material. The said openings have enlarged ends 62 for accommodating the chains. It will be appreciated that the'plates 60, may each consist of one or more parts fabricated together. They may be fixed to the chain guides at 63.

To close the openings 59 adjacent to the sides of the machine, telescopic units 64 are provided, each comprising preferably three plates. The plate 65 is mounted to move with the plate 60, and may be secured thereto, orof integral construction therewith. The plate 65 terminates in a transverse engagement portion or lip 66.

Disposed on the opposite side of the vertical wall portion 58 is a plate 67 mounted in any desired manner as, for example, at 68. This plate extends inward forming a closed guide recess 69, and terminating at its end in a lip 70 entering the opening 59. An interme diate plate 71 is positioned between the plates 65 and 67, and has end lips 72, 73 engageable respectively with the lips 7 0 and 66 in the manner hereinbefore set forth. The lip 72.

moves in the guide recess, and thearrangeguide means, such as the lugs 55 described,

if thatshould be necessary.

To act as a guide the material 20, and particularly to prevent an end of the same from catching at a-baffle 23 or 26, at the narrow openings 61, a guide element 74 is provided. This is made of a non-corrosive metal, such as Monel metal. It is preferably stationary, and sufiiciently spaced from the chains to avoid interference with the setting of the machine for materials of varying widths. The baffle is inclined at any suitable angle and'it's upper end is substantially at the center line of an opening 59.

It will be understood that the details of construction maybe changed considerably within the principles of the invention, and that the drawing is submitted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Iclaim': V

1. A tentering and'drying machine including a casing, means therein supporting a material in a plurality of spaced layers, said means including carrier bars in proximity to opposite walls of the casing, said bars being movable toward or away from each other for adjustment of the supporting means for ma: terials of varying widths, baflie means dividing the casing into a plurality of compartments each of which contains a plurality of the layers, means to feed air through the compartments and along the layers, said bafiie means having openings for the carrier bars and other openings for the movement of the material from one to another of the compartments, and telescopic closure means between the casing walls and the carrier bars 9 to adjust said openings according to the width of the material to prevent unintended flow of air through the openings.

2. A tentering and drying machine including a casing, means therein supporting a material 111:3] plurality of spaced layers, said means including carrier bars in proximity to opposite walls of the casing, said bars being movabletoward or away from each other for adjustment of the supporting means for materials of varying widths, baflle means dividing the easing into a plurality of compartments each of which containsa plurality of layers, means to feed air through the compartments and along the layers, said bafiie means having openings for the carrier bars and other openings for the movement of the material'from one to another of the compart-i ments, and adjustable closure means between the closure bars to act as a closure for said openings according to the width of the material to prevent substantial leakage therethrough.

3. A tentering and drying machine includ mg a caslng, means thereln supporting a material in a plurality of spaced layers, and means including carrier bars in proximity to opposite walls of the casing, said bars being movable toward or away from each other for adjustment of the supporting means for materials of varying widths, bafile means dividing the easing into a plurality of compartments each of which contains a plurality of the layers, means to feed air through the compartments and along the layers, said baflle means having openings for the carrier bars and other openings for the movement of the material from one to another of the compartments, and relatively slidable plates between the bars and also between the casing Walls and the bars to close the said openings according to the width of the material to avoid unintended flow of air through the same.

4. A tentering and drying machine including a casing, means therein supporting amaterial in a plurality of spaced layers, said means including carrier bars in proximity to opposite walls of the casing, said bars being movable toward or away from each other for adjustment of the supporting means for materials of varying widths, bafile means dividing the easing into a plurality of compartments each of which contains a plurality of the layers, means to feed air through the compartments and along the layers, said bafile means having openings for the carrier bars and other openings for the movement of the material from one to another of the compartments, and relatively slidable plates between the bars and also between the casing walls and the bars to close the said openings according to the width of the material to avoid unintended flow of air through the same, said plates being connected for movement with the material supporting means.

A tentering and drying machine including a casing, means therein supporting a material in a plurality of spaced layers, said means including carrier bars in proximity to opposite walls oi the casing, said bars belng movable toward or away from each other for adjustment of the supporting means for materials of varying widths, baiile means divid ing the casing into a plurality of compartments each of which contains a plurality of the layers, means to feed air through the compartments and along the layers, said bailie means having openings for the carrier bars and other openings for the movement of the material from one to another of the compartments, and relatively slidable plates between the bars and also between the casing walls and the bars to close the said openings according to the width of the material to avoid unintended flow of air through the same, the slidable plates for the opening for the material being on opposite sides thereof to narrow said opening.

6. A tentering and drying machine including a casing, means therein supporting a material 111 a plurahty of spaced layers, said means including carrier bars in proximity to opposite walls of the casing, said bars being movable toward or away from each other for adjustment of the supporting means for materials of varying widths, bafile means dividing the easing into a plurality of compartments each of which contains a plurality of the layers, means to feed air through the compartments and along the layers, said baiile means having openings for the carrier bars and other openings for the movement of the material from one to another of the compartments, and relatively slidable plates between the bars and also between the casing walls and the bars to close the said openings according to the width of the material to avoid unintended flow of air through the same, the opening for the material being relatively narrow, and a guide being provided to facilitate movement of the material through the said opening.

7. A tentering and drying machine including a casing, means therein supporting a material in a plurality of spaced layers, said means including carrier bars in proximity to opposite walls of the casing, said bars being movable toward or away from each other for adjustment of the supporting means for materials or" varying widths, baflle means dividing the easing into a. plurality of compartments each of which contains a plurality of the layers, means to feed air through the compartments and along the layers, said bafile means having openings for the Vertical bars, said baille means extending in parallelism to said layers and having an offset portion, said offset portion having an opening for the movement of the material from one compartment to another, and telescopic closure means for the openings to adjust the same according to the width of the material and prevent unintended flow of air through the openings.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES C. KENYGN. 

